Relates to the location of retail adult-use dispensaries in proximity to schools and houses of worship; repealer

Cannabis stores face limits and renewal protections

New York's law takes effect immediately and sets location limits for premises licensed to sell adult-use cannabis. They cannot be on the same street and within 500 feet of a building containing a school. The same-street limit is 200 feet for a building used exclusively as a house of worship. Distance runs in a straight line between the centers of the nearest qualifying entrances. Qualifying entrances exclude doors without exterior hardware, emergency-only or service-only exits, and doors to areas not regularly used by students or worship attendees. For buildings set back from the street, the entrance includes the walkway or stairs. Measurement uses the point where that path meets the building line or public street. Worship buildings keep their protected status when incidental uses do not detract from their mainly religious character. Allowed uses include lawful fundraising games, fundraising performances, other religious groups' activities, congregants' social events, health activities, and community members' private events. Payments to cover another party's use costs do not remove that status. These distance limits cannot be used to deny license renewals. Location compliance is determined when an applicant submits the location to the Office of Cannabis Management. Covered licenses issued before the law took effect count as compliant. Applicants who relied on written compliance notices received before that date follow office procedures used before July 28, 2025. All other applications follow the new limits.